The first tome or volume of the Paraphrase of Erasmus vpon the Newe Testamente

The .ix. Chapter.

Iesus called the twelue together,* 1.1 and gaue them power, and autoritie ouer all deiuils, and that they might heale diseases. And he sent them to preache the kyngdome of God, and to heare the sicke. And he sayed vnto them: Take nothyng to your iourneye: neyther staffe, nor sc••ip, neyther breade, neither money, neither haue two coates. And whatsoeuer house ye entre into, there abyde and thence departe. And whosoeuer wyll not receiue you, whan ye goe out of that citie, shake of the veray dust from your feete, for a testimonie agaynst them. And they depar∣ted and went through the tounes, preachyng the ghospell, and healyng euery where.

ANd hitherto did Iesus execute and administre the office of prea∣chyng the ghospell in his owne persone, framyng by all the meane space, and traynyng his twelue apostles many soondrye wayes, as men that should after the receiuing of the holy ghoste, succede him in tyme to come in the office of preachyng. And for y^t ve••aie cause it was, that he would in any wyse haue them conti∣nuall witnesses of his actes and preachyng. But to the entent that in the meane season they themselues also might shewe some paterne and saumple of them∣selues towardes the executing of so great an office, and euen the lord beyng yet alyue they might assaye and proue how well they coulde dooe: he called them euery one together into one place,* 1.2 for a lesson and token that there ought to bee no discorde ne disagreyng emong them in theyr preachyng. And to thentente that the preachyng of suche poore meane felowes and vnlearned persones shoulde not vttrely altogether lacke autoritie: he gaue vnto them moreouer the vertue and power to cast out all kynde of deuils, and to heale al kynde of disea∣ses. For it was mete that they whiche shoulde preache the kyngdome of God, should haue power ouer wicked deuils, the enemies of god: and also that suche as shoulde be preachers of that doctrine whiche healed al diseases of the mind, should not lacke vertue to heale all manier diseases of the bodye: yea and fer∣thermore conuenient it was▪ that the people should be allured and woonne to the profession of the ghospell, by good turnes and benefites, rather then by thynges of terrour. Accordyng to the exaumple (sayeth he) that my selfe haue geuen you, see that you gladly and freely vse your power to the heal••yng of al peoples diseases and miseries: see that ye corrupte not the synceritie and pure∣nesse of preachyng the ghospell, by any suspicion of dooyng it for aduauntage and lucre. Than appoynted he vnto them in playne wordes what it was that they ought to teache. For he gaue them in commission no suche thyng, as to teache the ceremonies of the lawe, whiche shoulde with in a short tyme be abo∣lished: not to teache blynde constitucions of men, as the Scribes and Phari∣ses vsed to teache, when they go rounde about bothe the sea and the lande to make one selie proselite, or nouice of their secte: But he gaue them in commaū∣demente to teache that the kyngdome of God was at hande. Which kyngdom of God, did not now consist in outwarde thynges to bee dooen with the bodye, but in spirite and vertue. And thus muche to preache vnto the rude ignoraunt people, was for that present tyme at the begynnyng sufficient for preparyng of mennes hertes vnto an higher doctrine. And for because the carefulnesse of thynges necessarie for the sustentacion of the bodye should by no meanes lette them from the buisinesse of the ghosphell, he sayed vnto them: Carrye no kynde

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of baggage aboute you on the waye▪ neither staffe to defende you withall, ne scrippe to kepe your meate in for store, ne purse wherein to putte any money for expenses,* 1.3 or charges necessarie, no nor twoo coates: for bee ye well assured, that ye shall not any where lacke any one of all these thynges, yf ye shall with pure hertes according to the tenour of my commaundement, diligently prouide and labour that the ghospell go forwarde and dayly encrease. For euery where shal there be, whose voluntary ientilnesse & liberalitie shal geue as muche as for you beeyng men that lyue from hande to mouthe, and can bee content with a litell, maye at all tymes be sufficient. Neither shall ye haue any cause to be pe••sife or carefull,* 1.4 where or how to bee enterteined for lodgeyng or harbour: for whereso∣euer ye can knowe of any that are woorthie and mete for the kyngdome of god, turne ye into theyr houses, and there continue at soiourne, leste yf ye should e∣uery other whyle bee flyttyng from one house to another, ye maye seme to haue dooen it for sekyng of deyntie fare. But beeyng content with suche chere as ye shall there fynde, tarie ye so long in the houses of thesame persones, vntill the good procedyng and encrease of the ghospell shall aduertise you to go forward to another place: but if it shall any where so happen, that no bodye will receiue you into theyr house, yet acknowlage and remembre the woorthynesse and dig∣nitie of your office, and bee not ouer earnest to thrust into their lappes whether they will or no, the thyng, which euery creature ought moste specially to craue: but streightwayes forsake ye that same citie, beeyng so ferre from takyng any kynde of commoditie by suche persones, as wilfully reiecte your preachyng, that ye shake of and caste backe agayne vnto them, yea euen the veraye duste that maye happily chaunce to haue stycked on your feet: playnly testifying and protesting vnto them, that ye haue frely preached the kyngdome of God vnto them, and that they haue made themselfes vnworthie of so great a gifte freely profered vnto them.* 1.5 Whan Iesus had with these and many other woordes mo enstructed and armed his Apostles, foorth they went twoo and twoo together: and goyng round about to euery towne and village, they preached euerywhere that the kyngdome of God was come. And whersoeuer they found any menne possessed with deuils, or sicke, or in daungier of any other impediment of the bo∣dye, they healed them in the name of Iesus. And this was the firste rudimente and entreaunce of the Apostles preachyng.

[ The texte.] And Herode the Zetrarche heard of all that was doen by hym, and he doubted because that it was sayed of some, that Iohn was arisen agayn from death: and of some, that Helias had appered: and of some, that one of the olde Prophetes was arysen agayne. And Herode sayed: Iehu haue I beheaded, but who is this of whom I heare suche thynges? And he desired to see hym.

By reason of these thynges the name of Iesus was so bruited abrode and made so famous, that the reporte of all his workynges and doynges came euē to the eares of Herode the Tetrarche. For whereas he knewe not Iesus, and heard sate that a certain man there was who at the byddyng of his word could and did cast out deiuils, did put awaye diseases, did restore the lame, and suche as were taken and had their sinowes shrounken, did make clene the lepres, did rayse vp the dead to life agayn: he was in great doubte and wonderously trou∣bled in his mynde, what man this might be so sodaynly sprong vp.

Some boasted abrode that Iesus was Iohn, whom Herode a litle tofore had flayne, and the same Iohn to haue returned to lyfe agayne, and therefore beyng

now as it were made halfe a God, to bee wexed mightye in dooyng of suche great miracles. Others said, that he was Helias, whom beeyng taken vp in a fiery chariot, the Iewes did loke for that he should cum agayn, accordyng to the prophecie of Malachias. Agayne sum supposed he was sum other of the olde Prophetes, the memorie of whiche Prophetes was high and holy, and was had in great reuerence among the Iewes.* 1.6 Howbeit Herode fearing on his owne behalf yf Iohn were reuiued again whom he had put to death, & reckening it a thing vncredible, y^t a man once dead, should be returned again to life, saied: As for Iohn I mine own self haue caused to be beheaded, who beyng dispatched & rid out of the world, I thought there had none been left a liue which would haue enterprised to do any suche great matters. And what felow is this of whō I heare much greater thinges thē euer Iohn wrought? And hereupō he earnestly sought sum occasiō to haue a sight of him, not to be made better thereby, but to satisfie his own curiositie to knowe all thynges, orels in case he should so thinke good, to do euen thatsame by him that he had doen by Iohn afore. But Iesus forasmuche as he knew Herodes mynd wel∣inough, would not cum where to be seen of him. For he was not cum for any such purpose to fede or delite the iyes of wicked princes with his miracles, but to bring the simple poore folkes to helth: nor to be beheaded did not like him, who had predestinate vnto himself the high exalted standard of y^e crosse.

[ The texte.] And the Apostles returned, and tolde him al that they had doen. And he toke them, and went aside into a solitary place, high vnto the citie called Bethsaida, whiche whan the people knew, they folowed him. And he receiued them, and spake vnto them of the kingdom of god, and hea∣led them that had nede to be healed.

After this the twelue returned home again vnto Iesus, with greate chere∣fulnes, declaring how the preaching of the gospell had very well prospered, and how great miracles euen thei also had doen in his name. But Iesus cal∣led them backe vnto sobrenesse and humilitie, teachyng that they shoulde not wexe any thyng the more haulte, ne take any thing the more highly vpō theim for the prosperous successe of any such maner thīges. For he enfourmed thē that miracles are wrought and doen through the power of god & not of men, and thesame oftentimes to be shewed foorth by other men, then suche as are predestinate to euerlastyng life: and that onely the godlynesse of mynd doeth make a man blessed, whether he haue y^e power to worke miracles, accordyng as the tyme requireth, orels haue it not. Iesus therfore of purpose to teache them by the dede selfe, and by the liuely practysyng of the verye thyng, after what sort they ought to fede the multitude with the foode of Gods word & of the ghospell whiche they had learned of him, he went aside with them oute of the cumpany into a desert place, where thei might repose thēselfes awhile after y^e labour of their iourney. For in that place there was so great a resorte of people about them, that they could haue no maner tyme of respite, no not so muche as to eate their meate. He had them away therefore into a solitarye place hard by a citie of Galile called Bethsaida, whiche was the natiue coū∣trey of Peter, Andrewe, and Philip all thre, and doubtelesse this departyng aside into a place solitary, was not bestowed vpon fond sensual pleasures or on slepe, but vpon a quietnes to pray and to geue thākes to God. For of such sorte ought the pastyme and relaxacion of suche men as are folowers of the

Apostles to be. But assone as it was spred abrode by the bruite of y^e people, whither Iesus had conueyed hymselfe to be solitary: an innumerable multi∣tude of people gatheryng together in clousters on euery side,* 1.7 went after him into wyldernesse. Than Iesus seeing the gredy desires of them, came out of the solitarie places that he had gon to for to repose hymselfe, and so littell mynde had he to putte them away from hym, that he went of his own accord to mete them, teachyng his disciples therby this lesson also that after a little shorte tyme of reposyng thēselues they ought euen anon eftsones to returne from restyng,* 1.8 vnto the office of preaching the ghospell. Whan Iesus was cum foorth, and sawe the infinite multitude or menne, women and chyldren, that had cū so great a iourney on foote out of diuerse places into deserte, as shepe wandryng hither and thyther, for lacke of a shepeheard, beeyng moued with pitie and compassion, he first fed their soules speakyng vnto them many thinges of the kingdome of god: than did he heale them whiche were holden with great diseases and other maladies of the body.

[ The texte.] And whan the day began to were away, than came the twelue, and said vnto him: send the peo∣ple away, that they may goe into the tounes and neer villages, and lodge and geat meate, for we are here in a place of wildernes: But he said vnto them: Geue ye them to eate. And thei said: We haue no mo but fiue loaues and two fyshes, except we should goe and bye meate for all this people: And they were about fyue thousand men: And he said: Cause them to sitte doune by fyf∣ties in a coumpany. And they did so, and made them all to sitte doune. And he toke the fiue loa∣ues, and the two fyshes, and loked vp to heauen, and blissed them, and brake, & gaue to the dis∣ciples, to set before the people. And they all did eate, and were satisfied. And there was takē vp of that remained to them, twelue baskets full of broken meate.

While these thinges were in doyng, the daye began to drawe towardes an ende. And the apostles consyderyng the multitude to be infinite, & the euē∣••ide to drawe nere, the place to bee ferre from any towne or village, and that they had no vytayles there: they put Iesus a litell in remembraunce, saiyng: Leat goe the people in season, that goyng into the next litell townes and vil∣lages here about, they may geat themselues meate: for this is a desert place where is no meate to be gotten. And Iesus to shewe that they whiche with all their harte applyed the doctrine of the gospel, should be so prouided for, that they should neuer lacke meate, and also minding that the miracle whiche he entended there and than to shewe, should be very euident, he aūswered his disciples: they nede not for this purpose to depart hens into any townes or villages: but rather geue ye them meate your selues: shewyng vnto theim by thesame by woorde, that this thyng also dooeth otherwhyles appertaine to the duetie of one that supplieth an Apostles roume to relieue the necessitye of their flocke with part of their owne substaunce, be it neuer so small. And the Apostles at this tyme lacked no good will,* 1.9 but sory men they were that thei lacked habilitie. And therfore thei aūswer in this maner: we haue not a bytte of meat in the world, more thē fiue loaues and two fishes: And this prouisi∣on will scarcely be enough for vs, as fewe as we be for oure supper, excepte percase it bee thy pleasure that we shall gooe into the nexte tounes and villa∣ges here aboute to bye meate, asmuche as may serue so great a multitude as here be. But therunto had we nede to haue a good summe of money, wheras we haue but right small store of money among vs all.

For there wer almost the full noumbre of fyue thousand men. Then sayed Iesus: Cause ye them to sitte downe by compaynies, and so to deuide them∣selues that they sitte by fiftie and fiftie in a compaynye.* 1.10 For so dooe they that make a feaste of a great noumbre, vse to appoynte a determinate noumbre of persones and messes to euery table, that the butlers and other seruitours maie knowe how muche to appoynte and prepare for the same. The Apostles al∣though they sawe no prouision toward, yet at the lordes commaundement, thei bydde the people to sit down by compaynies as afore is sayed, euen as though meate shoulde immediately be sette afore them. The people also on the other syde euen with lyke playnesse doe as they are bidden. Iesus therfore a manne of a newe and a straunge facion to bee a feaster of geastes, toke the fyue loaues and twoo fishes, and liftyng vp his iyes streight to heauen, he firste halowed them with luckie woordes of multiplying, and than he brake thesame, and de∣lyuered it by piece meale vnto his disciples,* 1.11 to set before the people. They were euery one refreashed with as muche as they woulde eate, and so ferre they wer from lackyng any thyng, that whan euery body was satisfied with the largest, there were twelue baskettes ful of broken meate gathered by the handes of the disciples. And in this matier too, there lyeth hidden a figurate representacion of a more secrete doctrine. The Apostles had prouision of viaundrie, but it is suche as belongeth to Iesus. This viaundrie lyke as it is of lyght pryce and course geare for poore folkes eatyng, so is it but litle in quantitie. For the doc∣trine of Moses is manyfolde: and the philosophiers learnyng is of soondrie manier sortes of matiers and ful of plenteous stuffe: but the worde of the ghos∣pell is playne homely geare, and short, and yet suche as maie suffise for the soules of all nacions to be refreashed, in case it be deliuered and receyued as it ought to bee. To men of the apostles profession is the worde committed, where∣with soules are made fatte: but thesame woorde doe they not sette afore the people to fede on, except it be firste consecrated and broken of Christe. For than and neuer els is it the true fruite of preachyng the ghospell, if the teacher dooe not presumpteouslye vsurpe to hymselfe the gift of learnyng whiche he hath as a thyng commytted to his credite, ne vndiscretely or misaduisedly shewe foorth the same as thoughe it were of his owne: but yelde it vnto Christe to bee made holy of him. Otherwyse all in vain shall the teachers labour bee when he preacheth, onlesse Iesus shall firste haue blissed the woorde, onlesse he shall haue broken it, onlesse he shal with his own handes deliuer it to be distributed to the people. For piththye and effectuall it is whatsoeuer procedeth out of hys holy handes, he only it is, that fedeth, that refresheth, that maketh full: bishops are nothing els but ministers and distributoures of an other mannes libe∣ralitie. The people all the while sitteth down in coumpanies vpon the ground nothyng stickyng or doubtyng, nothyng murmuryng or repinyng, whereby is signified, that in the faithfull congregacion of Christes churche, there oughte to be sobre humilitie, and plain faithfull truste of the heart in god, without any doublenesse, and that all discorde and sedicious vproare ought to be away. Cō∣sider me ferthermore this mysterie too. The Lorde Iesus firste of all thynges taught and healed the people, and than fedde them afterward.

The woorde of God also is the heauenly meate of the soule. But sum por∣cion hereof is not denayed to the vngodly and to the newely entered or instruc∣ted in the faythe. For it is the medicine of mennes soules, and the refeccion of

the weake. For holsome doctrine worketh the like effect in the soules of sinners that Iesus with his worde and his touchyng did in diseases of the body. But there is a mistical bread whiche is not geuen but to persones now already wel taught, and also throughly healed. Thesame forsouth is that heauenly breade of the lordes body, which is not geuē to those that are not yet through baptisme receyued into the body of the churche and congregacion: ne vnto suche, whose mynde and soule is holden with some grieuous cryme, as it wer with a mortall sickenesse. And that same meate of the priuie hidden wysedome of God, (which Paule the Apostle dyd not shewe foorth but emong the perfect,) is not to be vt∣tered vnto all persones at auenture.

[ The texte.] ¶And it fortuned, as he was alone praying, his disciples were with hym and he asked them, saying: Who saye the people that I am? They aunswered and sayed: Iohn Baptyste, some saye Helias, and some saye that one of the olde Prophetes is a••i••eu. He sayed vnto them: But who saye ye, that I am? Simon Peter aunswered and sayed: thou art the Christe of god: and he warned and commaunded them that they should tell no man that thyng, saying: the sonne of man must suffre many thynges, and be reproued of the elders, and of the high priestes and Scribes, and bee slayne, and ryse agayn the thyrde daye.

Now because the lorde had so tempered all his sayinges and dooynges, that some whiles he would shewe forth tokēs of his godly power, and another tyme he would manifestely shew the veritie of his humayn nature: the opiniōs of men concernyng hym dyd muche varie. But because it was requisite that e∣mong them, by whom he had appoynted to renewe the world, there should bee one vniforme profession perfectly agreyng in it selfe concernyng hym:* 1.12 at a time whan he was in his prayer solitarie with his disciples, he demaunded of them what opinion the people had of hym, or whom they sayed that he was. The dis∣ciples aunswere: some suppose thee to bee Iohn the Baptiste reuiued agayn: some saye that thou arte Helias, of whom the Iewes thynke that he shall come agayne before that Messias shall come: and some others beleue the to be some one man of the olde Prophetes called to lyfe agayn. Than sayed Iesus. As for the people, they are inconstaunt and waueryng as they are woont to be. But ye that knowe me nerer and familiarly, who dooeye saye that I am? There Petur beeyng more ardent and fyerie then the residue,* 1.13 made aunswere in the name of them al: we know thee to be Messias, whom God hath enoynted with all heauenly gyftes of grace: And this theyr right profession Iesus in dede al∣loweth well, but yet he geueth them a great charge, that they shoulde make no woordes to no creature, what opinion they were of. For he sayed the tyme of o∣penyng that misterie in the open face of all the worlde was not yet come, and that the sacrifice of his death muste firste bee executed and accomplished, and that he was appoynted to come to the glorie of that name, by many kyndes of despite and reproche. For the sonne of man, sayeth he, muste abyde muche woe, and must bee reproued of thelders, and of the Scribes, and of the chiefe of the priestes, yea and at length bee slaine too, and aryse agayne from death to lyfe the third daie. Ye muste therfore beware, leste the glorye euen of this name if it should now at this present be preached, should not fynd feyth to be credited, be∣cause of the affliccion and death of the bodye, and so might be a let to my death.

[ The texte.] ¶And he sayed vnto them all: If any man wyll come after me, leat hym denye hymselfe, and take vp his crosse dayly, and folow me. For whosoeuer wyll saue his lyfe shall loose it.

But whosoeuer dooeth lose his life for my sake, the same shall saue it. For what auaunta∣geth it a man, if he winne the whole worlde, and lose himselfe, or runne in damage of him∣selfe. For whoso is ashamed of me and of my woordes: of him shall the soonne of manne be ashamed, when he cometh in his maiestie, and in the maiestie of his father, and of the holye Aungels. I tell you of a trueth: There be some standing here, which shall not ••ast of death; till they see the kyngdome of God.

Than where Petur at the mencionyng of deathe trembled and quaked for ve∣raye feare, and aduised Christe to some other better waies then so, whan Iesus had putte hym to silence, he begoonne to exorte his other disciples also to the fo∣lowyng of his deathe, saiyng: Thus hathe it pleased my father: by thys waye muste I come to glorye. And whoso wyll bee a disciple of myne, yf he gladly de∣syre to bee partaker of my blisfulnesse, he muste of necessitye bee a folower of my deathe afore. It is not enoughe to goe folowyng me on fote at my hel••s where I goe: he muste folowe me in deedes, or els will I not acknowelage hym for a disciple. For whosoeuer shall come to the office of preachyng the ghospell, must denye hymselfe altogether, and muste renounce all the cares of this worlde for euer, rychesse, pleasures, promocions, kyns••olkes, affeccions, yea and lyfe it selfe also, and muste euery daye take his crosse on hys backe, hauing his mynde euer∣more readye vnto all suche thynges, as ye see that I abyde and endure. I wyll goe before you as the maister: leat hym come after whosoeuer shall bee mynded to bee a disciple. Neyther is there anye cause why ye shoulde feare to bee slayne. For so to peryshe, is to bee preserued. For whosoeuer shall lose his lyfe for my sake, thesame hath set his lyfe in perfeicte safetye: and on the contrary side: who∣soeuer stertyng backe or shrynking away from the buisy charge of the ghospel, shall haue a mynde to saue the lyfe of hys bodye, thesame shal lose the life of his soule, which alone and none but that is to bee reckened the true lyfe: and for the preseruyng of this lyfe, it is the parte of a wise man gladlye to take the losse of all other thynges in the worlde. For what shall it auayle a manne, yf he wynne all that euer this worlde hath woorthye to bee desired, whan he hath loste hys owne selfe? whan the mannes selfe dyeth those thynges also that he had gotten are perished and gone with hym. And he perisheth altogether in dede, whoso hath loste euerlastyng lyfe. Leate no disciple of myne thinke shame to suffre such thynges whiche I my selfe shall suffre. Leate hym not bee ashamed to professe my doctryne afore all the worlde. For whosoeuer shall bee ashamed of me and my woordes before men as one offended and slaundred with the worldly shame of the crosse: of suche an one shall the sonne of man agayne bee ashamed, whan after the laiyng downe of the infirmitie of the fleashe, he shal come at the secoūd time shewyng foorth vnto the whole vniuersall worlde the maiestye of hymselfe, of his father, and of hys holy aungelles. And doubte ye nothing that the thing that I saye, shall one day come to passe. For this I affirme vnto you for a mat∣ter of assured trueth. Some there bee here emong you standyng by, whiche shall not departe out of this life, but that they shal fyrst in some parte se the maiestye of the kyngdome of god. The thyng that nowe lyeth hidden, shall one daye in tyme to come be made open and manifeste vnto all creatures.

[ The texte.] ¶And it fortuned that aboute an eyght dayes after these saiynges, he tooke Petur and Iohn and Iames, and wente vp into a mountayne to praye. And as he praied, the facion of his countenaunce was chaunged, and his garmente was whyte, and shone. And beholde there talked with hym two men whiche were Moses and Helias, that appered in the ma∣••••ye, and spake of his departiyng, whiche he should ende at Hierusalem. But Petur & they

that wer with him, were heauy with slepe: And whan they awoke they sawe his maiestie, and twoo men standing with him

Than Iesus to perfourme the promysse whiche he had nowe made, dyd about theight day after these woordes speaking, choose out three of his .xii. Apostles, that is to we••e, Petur, Iames, and Iohn, and according to his accustomed woont, he gotte hym vp to a mountaine, there to praye. And as he was in pray∣yng, his face was soodaynly chaunged into an other lykenes replete with ma∣iestie and glorye, and his garmentes shone as white as any snowe. There were seene also with him at thesame instaunte two other men of lyke maiestie talking with him, of whome the one was Moses and the other Helias: For the lawe had by figures set out Christ derkely (as it were) in a shadowe, and the prophe∣cies had directely poynted him oute what he was. Nowe the talkyng of these twoo wyth Iesus,* 1.14 what other thing doeth it signifie, but the perfeicte agreyng of the olde and newe Testamente together? Their talkyng with hym was con∣cernyng the kynde of deathe, whiche the Lorde accordyng to y^e tenour & fourme of the prophecie many a daye afore written and set foorth by theim, shoulde af∣terwarde accomplishe at Hierusalem: to thēde that eftsons the delectable swete∣nesse of the glorie, shoulde bee brought to a tempre with the mencion of deathe. But al this did not the Apostles euen veray wel see, because they had their iyes euen heauye with slepe. But as soone as they were awaked, they playnely sawe the maiestie of the Lorde, and also the two men standyng harde by him.

[ The texte.] ¶And it chaunced as they departed from him, Petur saied vnto Iesus: maister, it is good beeyng here for vs, let vs make also three tabernacles, one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Helias (and wi•••• not what he saied.) While he thus spake, there came a cloude a •• ouer shadowed them, and they feared when thei wer come into the cloude. And there came a voice oute of the cloude, saing: This is my dere so••ne, heare ye him: and as soone as the voice was paste, Iesus was founde alone, and they kept it close, and told no man in those daies any of those thinges whiche they had seen.

Whiche twoo men when they begun to departe from Iesus, Petur fearing leste all that same delectable sight shoulde also goe awaie, he saied vnto Iesus: Maister it is no goyng any whyther oute of suche a place as this. Fare well Hierusalem and leate it goe, which threateneth to put thee to death. Tushe 〈◊〉〈◊〉 vs rather make three tabernacles here in this mountayne, one for the, one for Moses, and one for Helias. Thus spake Petur as a man inebriate and made droncken with the swetenesse of this vision, not knowyng what he sayed. For he required to triumphe before he had woonne the battaile: and woulde haue had the best game of rennyng,* 1.15 before he had tenne for it. Euen in the instaunte tyme while Petur was speakyng these woordes, there soodaynly arose a cloude and caste a shadowe ouer all the disciples, beeyng nowe not hable in theyr mortall bodie, to abide the beholding of so greate glorye. And while Moses and He∣lias wer entreyng into the cloude, and wer vanishing awaye from the iyes of y^e disciples (for reason it was that the light of euangelicall trueth apperyng, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 shadowes and misticall derkenesse of figures shoulde geue place and be go••••) the voyce of his heauenly father sowned downe from the cloude saiyng: Moses and Helias, who prophecied of my sonne, the Iewes haue hitherto had in highe estimacion and reuerence. Great men were thei two in dede, yet wer they but my seruauntes. But thissame is he that is my sonne, so dere beloued vnto my hert.

as none other is but he alone, therefore herken ye to hym. This voice thus sou∣nyng in their eares, Iesus was founde alone, leste they mighte haue demed the testimonie of that voyce to concerne any other person then euē veray him onely.* 1.16 And the sayed three disciples ryght so as they were commaunded of the Lorde, kept the matter close, and reported not the priuity of that vision to any creature aliue, vntill Christ had arisen againe from dea••h to lyfe after his passion. For it was not the Lordes pleasure to haue the maiestie of his Godhed published or openly spoken of before the tyme of his deathe,* 1.17 aswell because there shoulde bee nothyng that myght be a lette vnto thatsame sacrifice whereby mankynde was to bee restored, as also because that thyng myght not bee openly talked of, whiche no man woulde than beleue, yf it had bene reported. And all vnder ••ne, did he therin by an exaumple, that was a true matter in dede, geue a lesson to vs, that in case any excellent good thing be in vs, we should ra••h•••• kepe it close then make vauntes or braggues therof: and in case we haue any special vertue or good qualitye in vs by the free gyfte of God, thesame is to bee declared and shewed in deedes, rather then by makyng many gaie or high woordes of it.

[ The texte.] ¶And it chaunced that on the nexte daye, as they came down from the hille, muche people met hym. And beholde: a man of the coumpaignie cried out, saiyng: maister, I beseche the beholde my sonne, for he is all that I haue, and see, a spirite taketh hym and soodaynely crieth, and he knocketh and beateth hym that he foometh againe, and with muche peine de∣parteth from him, whan he hath rent hym. I besought thy disciples ••o cast hym out, & they coulde not. Iesus aunswered and saied: O feithlesse and crooked nacion, howe long shal I bee with you, and shall suffre you? Bryng thy soonne hither. As he was yet a cumm••ng, the f••ende rent him and tare him. And Iesus rebuked the vncleane spirite, and healed y^e childe, and deliuered him to his father. And they were all amased at the high power of God.

The nexte daye folowyng, Iesus came downe from the hyll with his said thre disciples. And he foūd a mighty great multitude of people gathered about the residue of the disciples, whom he hadde lefte there behynd hym whan he ad∣dressed hym to goe vp to the mountayne. But the people assoone as they espied Iesus returnyng agayn, went to mete hym. For they had found a great lacke & mysse of his presence. And there had happened a freshe matter, why they should require to haue his presence. For one of y^• coūpaignie cryed out to hym saiyng: maister, I most humbly beseche thee, leat the extreme miserie of a sonne of mine moue the. For I haue no mo but him alone: and he is holden with an extreme tyrannous deuill, whiche dooeth euerye other whyle soodaynlye take hym, and vexeth hym sundry waies, that pitie it is to see, with much greate roaryng, flas∣shyng hym on the grounde, and so wrestyng his limmes as though he woulde teare them from the body of hym, and he fomyng at the mouthe for peine all the whyle. And as often as he taketh hym, he scracelye departeth from hym, vntyll all hys body be rent and torne. I praied thy disciples to caste out this spirit. They did their best, but they haue not bene hable to dooe it. Than Iesus well perceiuyng that the thyng hadde so chaunced by reason of the fathers vnbeliefe that prayed for health to his soonne:* 1.18 and in consideracion of his disciples feithe beeyng yet hitherto but weake, he cryed with a loude voyce, saiyng: O nacion full of mistrustyng, and of an herte nothyng single, howe long tyme shall I bee conuersaunt emong you, and shall suffre these thynges? Can I not yet all thys whyle bring thus muche to passe, to make you haue a perfeicte feyth and truste in me? dooeth the weakenesse of thys bodye of myne so muche leate you? And turnyng hymselfe to the man, and requyring of hym afore hand to haue a more

stedfast feith, he saied: Bring thy sonne hither to me. And as soone as the young thyng was brought to Iesus, the eiuil spirite that was in him tooke him, quas∣shyng the chylde on the grounde:* 1.19 and immediatelye Iesus restored hym to hys health, and gaue him to his father agayne made perfectely whole, where his fa∣ther had brought him thither vnpossible to be cured by any mannes helpe. The more miserable that the sight of this eiuill had been, so muche the more did the people euery one of them meruaill to see howe quickelye the childe was holpen out of hande, by the vertue and power of God.

[ The texte.] But whyle they woondred euery one at all thynges which he dyd, he saied vnto hys disciples: seate these saiynges s••ncke downe into youre cares. For it wil come to passe that the sonne of men shalbee deliuered into the handes of menne: but they wiste no•• what the woord ment, and it was hidden from theim, that they vnderstoode it not. And they feared to aske of hym that saiyng.

But whan the fame of Iesus weaxed euery daye more and more famous through suche actes as these: A certayne temptacion of worldly glory entred in∣to the hertes of his disciples, by reason that they hadde suche a maister, in whose name, euen they also themselfes dyd manye great actes to be woondred at. But Iesus calleth them home from this affeccion to the contemplacion of his lowe state of abieccion in this worlde, at whiche the time was not long to come, when they woulde be offended and slaundred. The glorie of dooeyng miracles (sayeth he) is now a matter of delectacion vnto you: but it is a thing much more materiall for you, depely to enprint in your hertes these sayinges of myne, from which your myndes dooe gretlye abhorre. For that thyng ought ye moste of all to haue in mynde, whiche it shall behoue euerye one of you to folowe. As for glorie leat me alone to see for that. For the thing muste nedes come to passe, that I haue already tolde you, and yet nowe agayne I saye vnto you, which is, that the soonne of man, whose glorie and fame dooeth nowe delite you, shall ere long be attached, and shall bee deliuered into the handes of menne, and shall sundrye waies suffre much affliccion, and shal lastely be put to death. This tale, though it had bene once or twise heard out of his mouth, yet had not it well settled in the myndes of the disciples. For they coulde not well beare in mynd the thing which they had no luste to heare.* 1.20 They abhorred the mencion of death: as men setting al their mindes on the glorie of Iesus, not hauing al the while any intelligence or vnderstanding that the glorie of the Lord was most chiefely to be renoumed and made famous, through the open worldely shame of hangyng on the crosse. And in dede they hearde a speakyng of death, but it was as it had been half in a dreme, nothyng well vnderstandyng what the thyng ment whiche was spoken, and yet durste they not demaunde anye questions of hym, what these woordes might mene,* 1.21 hauyng freash in theyr remembraunces, that Petur whan he was somewhat ouer bolde and buisye with Iesus, had hearde Iesus saie vnto hym: auaunt out of my sight thou Satan, thou haste no saueryng of those thynges that appertein to God, but altogether of such thinges as appertein to y^• world.

[ The texte.] ¶And there entred a thought emong them, whiche of theim should bee greatest: whan Iesus perceiued the thought of their hertes, he tooke a chylde, and set hym harde by him, and sayed vnto them: whosoeuer receiueth this childe in my name, receiueth me. And who¦soeuer receiueth me, receiueth hym that sent me. For he that is least emong you al, the same shalbee greatest.

After al this same, Iesus wente to Capernaum: And so it was, that foras∣muche

as the disciples wer yet carnal, because they had seen the glory of weor∣king of many miracles, and because they had hearde the maiestie of the kyng∣dome of God promysed, and because theimselfes too, had dooen many woon∣drefull thynges aboue nature at y^e name of Iesus: a certayn worldly thought entred into theim which at laste braste out thus ferre, that as they were going on the way, they reasoned together one with an other, whiche of them shoulde sute highest in the kyngdome of heauen. For they dreamed that such a like or∣der shoulde bee in the kyngdome of heauen, as they had seen in the courtes of worldely princes, or in ryche folkes houses, in whiche he that is more proude, and quicker or bolder spirited then an other is, he is the more Iolier felowe. Than Iesus, althoughe he knewe well enoughe what it was, that they had emong theimselfes kept disputacions of: yet as soone as he was come into y^e house, he demaunded of theim what the matter was, that they had so hardelye disputed and reasoned of by the waie. And they all plaiyng mum, and not ha∣uyng a woorde to saie, because they wer halfe ashamed of the matter, Iesus to shewe that their thoughtes and their priuie talkes behynd his backe wer not hydden ne vnknowen to hym, toke a litle innocente childe in his hand, and set hym hard by his syde, and callyng the twelue together vnto hym, he sayed: ye dispute of greatnesse, whiche of you shalbee greatteste. The greatteste with me are those that are moste inferiours.

What is more playne without fraude or guyle, then this litle chylde, or what thyng more lowe? Euen veray suche muste ye become, if ye will be chiefe in the kyngdome of the ghospel. The kyngdome of feith and charity, knoweth none ambicion,* 1.22 it is not acquainted with plaiyng the Lorde, it can no skill of tirannye: whatsoeuer persone receiueth vnto him suche a childe as this, in my name, receiueth me myselfe: and whosoeuer receiueth me, receiueth hym that hath sent me. If I haue plaied the Lorde towardes you, than reason you also who shalbe y^e chiefe emōg you: but if I haue rather vsed my self as a willing and a readye seruaunte to the commodities of all persones, knowe ye that he shalbee a great man emong you all, who in contemnyng of glory, in humilitie and submission, and in feruent affeccion to bee as a seruaunte to dooe all crea∣tures good, shalbee the least and moste inferiour of all men.

[ The texte.] ¶And Iohn aunswered, and saied: maister, we sawe one castyng out deuils in thy name and we forbad hym, because he folowed not with vs. And Iesus saied vnto him, forbid ye hym not. For he that is not against vs, is with vs.

And because they had hearde hym saye, that litle ones are to bee receiued in the name of Iesus, it came into Iohns mynde, that they had excluded and de∣barred a certayne man from the fraternitie of ministring the ghospel. He there∣fore is in a doubte, whether that lyke as all men were to bee receiued vnto the felowship of the saluacion of the ghospell, so in lyke manier all men wer to be admitted to the ministracion of preachyng the ghospell,* 1.23 and to the weorkyng of miracles. And in this poyncte was hydden a litell spice of a certaine secret pangue of enuye. God had tofore geuen power vnto the twelue onely, to caste out deuils: and to heale diseases. Thys dignitie they thoughte not me••e to bee made common to any others. And therefore Iohn saied: maister at the tyme whan beeyng sent foorth by thee, we executed the office of preachyng the ghos∣pell abrode: we sawe a certaine man casting out deuils in thy name, though he bee none of the noumbre of vs twelue, no nor dooeth not soe muche as folowe

thee neyther. This man, as one beyng a straunger to our brotherhood, we for∣badde that he shoulde no more so dooe. Than Iesus although he would in no place suffre hymselfe to be preached of by the wicked spirites, yet teacheth that men of what sorte soeuer they bee, are not to bee forbidden from hauyng to do in the ghospel, although they do thesame of no veray sincere hert, so that (saith he) the thyng that they doe,* 1.24 they doe it in the name of Iesus, and doe thesame thyng that ye dooe. For whosoeuer is not an aduersarie vnto vs, doeth euen in that veraie poynte make on our syde, that he doeth not against vs. To such a thyng as is straunge and by all possible waies to be euerye where published abrode, al fauour doeth auaile. The miracle is not his y^t doeth it, but Goddes, who sheweth his power by man, as by his ministre and instrument. Therfore whatsoeuer persone sheweth any miracle by callyng vpon my name, dooethe publishe and spred abrode my glory, and debarreth himself of al title to speake 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of me from thensforth, whose name he hath found so effectual & ful of power.

[ The texte.] ¶And it fortuned whan the tyme was come that he shoulde bee receiued vp, he sette his face to go to Hierusalem, and sent messagiers before him. And they went and entred into a city of the Samaritanes, to make ready for him. And thei would not receiue him because his face was as though he would gooe to Hierusalem. Whan hys disciples, Iames and Iohn, sawe this, they saied: Lord wilt thou that we commaund fyer to come down from heauen and consume them, euen as Helias dyd? Iesus turned about, and rebuked them, saiyng: ye wotte not what manier spirite ye are of. For the sonne of manne is not come to destroy mennes lyues, but to saue theim. And they went to an other ••owne.

And so it befell, that the time beeyng nowe veraye nere at hande, when Iesus leauyng the yearth, should be receiued vp into heauen, the Lorde had already entred his iourney, and shewed euē plainly by his countenaunce, that he was bounde towardes Hierusalem, as one that purposely minded to be in the way agaynst the occasiō of his death should come. He therfore sent messagers afore hym twoo or three of the Apostles, to prepaire him some harbourgh and place of soiourneyng within a certaine citie of the Samaritanes, throughe whiche his iourney laye. And whan they came, the tounesmen had shutte the gates of the citie against them, because they coniectured by the veray facions and coū∣tenaunce of the Apostles, that they were gooyng towardes Hierusalem.

For the Samaritanes, in consideracyon that all theyr woorshyppyng of God was in a mountaine of their owne, hated and abhor••ed all such as went to Hierusalē in the way of deuocion to worship God there. Upon this Iames and Iohn who hadde been sente on the sayed message, when they sawe the vn∣courtesie of the inhabitaūtes there, whiche woulde not suffre them so much as to come within the precincte of their towne walles: beeyng euen all out of pa∣cience, sayed to the Lord: Maister, is it thy pleasure that we bidde fier to come downe from heauen, as Helias ons dyd, whiche may consume these felowes? But Iesus because he woulde shewe howe great the mildenes of a teacher of the ghospell ought to bee, bridleed their wrathefulnesse with a sharpe rebuke, saiyng: Take ye not the dede of Helias for your exaumple. He beyng led with the spirite brought the wicked people of that tyme to confusion. But as for ye doe not yet vnderstand what spyrite ye ought to bee of. That same spirite of the ghospel is more meke then so. There shall hereafter come a time of redresse and vengeaunce. But vntill that daye the sonne of man is come, not to cast a∣waie mennes liues or soules, but to saue them. They y^t do now at this presente

kepe vs out of their towne, wil peraduēture an other day hereafter take vs in. They are therefore to bee saued, that they maie bee in case to repent & emende. And so leauyng the towne, they turned an other waye to an other litle towne. By these wordes Iesus toke out of theyr stomakes al desirefulnesse of doing vengeaunce, and taught vs to vse fauourable bearyng towardes suche as at the firste begynnyng woulde exclude and kepe out the doctrine of the ghospel from theim, allegeyng that it was enough to leaue such for a season vntil they might at a tyme of occasion bee conuerted to a better mynde.

[ The texte.] And it chaunced, that as they were walkyng in the waie, a certaine man saied vnto him: I will folowe the whither soeuer thou goe: Iesus saied vnto hym: Foxes haue holes, and birdes of the ayre haue nestes, but the sonne of man hath not where to laie his head.

Againe it fortuned as they wente, that a certaine man of his own volunta∣rie mynde, sayed vnto Iesus: I will folowe the whithersoeuer thou shalt goe. And Iesus myndyng to shewe that suche as broughte not with them myndes mete for suche a weighty matter, were not to bee admitted to the fraternitie of preaching the ghospel, (for that better it were not to take the matter vpon thē then to geue it ouer again, after it were once taken in hande) sayed vnto him: Foxes haue holes of theyr owne in the earth, and birdes of the aier haue theyr nestes in the trees: but the sonne of man hath not anye place where to put hys head in. Suche an one therefore as hathe anye thing in this worlde, whereon to sette hys delite, or whereon to set his ful reste and quiet, is no mete folower of the sonne of man. He muste renounce all thynges, that will folowe me

[ The texte.] And he saied vnto another, folowe me. And thesame saied: Lord suffre me first to go and buirie my father. Iesus saied vnto hym: leat the dead bu••rie their dead: But go thou and preache the kyngdom of God. An other saied: Lord I wil folow the, but lea••e me first go bid them farewel, which are at home at my house: Iesus saied vnto him, No man that putteth his handes to the plough and looketh backe, is apte to the kyngdome of God.

Againe whan he had cast his iye on a certaine other man, he saied vnto hym: folowe me. But he made this aunswere: Maister geue me leaue fyrste to buirie my father. But Iesus geuyng a bywoorde that the cause of sal∣uacion is to bee preferred before all poync••es of carnall duetye, sayed vnto hym: Leate the dead buirye theyr deade: but gooe thou and shewe abrode the kyngdome of God. By thys exaumple dyd the Lorde forfende the excuses of suche men whiche vnder the colour of naturall affeccion and dutie,* 1.25 dooe putte of and delaye the care and earneste appliyng of eternall saluacion. And yet a wurse ••orte of menne then those, are they whiche vnder the colour of fyndyng stoppes and lettes about the affaires of theyr housholde, do prolong & drieue of fro morowe to morowe, the matter of saluacion, whiche oughte euen at the first occasiō streight way to be gone through withal. For there came an other man to hym,* 1.26 who beeyng commaunded to folowe him, aunswered: Maister I will come after thee, doe nomore but suffre me to goe bidde my familiar fren∣des and my housholde farewell. Than saied Iesus, whosoeuer hath ons put his hande to the plough and than afterwarde loketh backe again, is not apte for the kyngdome of God. This matter of the ghospell, is an high matter, and an hard to come to, whiche whoso hath ons enterprised, thesame must with a pe••pertuall appliyng of it, procede stil and goe forwarde to thynges of more and more perfeccion, and neuer turne his mynde awaye to the vyle cares of transitorye thynges of this worlde.

Notes

• * 1.1

  The 〈◊〉〈◊〉
• * 1.2

  And gaue thē power and autori∣tie ouer all deuils.
• * 1.3

  Take no∣thīg to your iourney, ne∣ther sta••, nor scrip.
• * 1.4

  And what soeuer house ye entre in∣to•• &
• * 1.5

  And they departed.
• * 1.6

  Ihō haue I beheaded.
• * 1.7

  And he re∣ceiued thē.
• * 1.8

  And spake vnto thē of the kingdōe of god.
• * 1.9

  We haue no mo but fiue loaues and two fyshes.
• * 1.10

  And they were about fiue thou∣sand men.
• * 1.11

  And h•• toke the fiue loa∣ues and blis¦sed them.
• * 1.12

  Who saye y^• people that I am?
• * 1.13

  Simon Pe∣ter aunswe∣red and sai∣ed: thou art the Christe of God. &c
• * 1.14

  And spake of his depar¦••yng. &c.
• * 1.15

  There came a cloude & o¦uer shadow∣ed them. &c.
• * 1.16

  Iesus was found alone
• * 1.17

  And they kept it close. &c.
• * 1.18

  I besought thy disci∣ples to caste him out and they coulde not.
• * 1.19

  And they were all a∣mased at Y^• myghtye power of God.
• * 1.20

  For it wyll come to pas that the sōn of man.
• * 1.21

  And they feared to aske hym of that saiyng
• * 1.22

  Whosoeuer receiueth this chylde in my name
• * 1.23

  We sawe ne castyng out deuils in thy name
• * 1.24

  For he that is not agist vs, is with vs.
• * 1.25

  Leat y^e dead buirye their dead.
• * 1.26

  No man y^t putteth hys handes to y^e plough and loketh backe